Display and merchandise supports



oct. 22, 1957 LEVY ETAL 2,810,539

ISPLAY AND MERCHANDISE SUPPORTS Filed Dec. 23. 1953 INVENTORS Edward M.Levy By M 1 .4 Rhe/hs/mm United States Patent DISPLAY AND MERCHANDISESUPPORTS Edward M. Levy, Evanston, and Meyer A. Rh'ein'strom, Chicago,111., assignors to Reflector-Hardware Corporation, Chicago, 11]., acorporation of Illinois Application December 23, 1953, Serial No.399,902

3 Claims. (Cl. 248-423) The present invention relates to improvements inmerchandise display fixtures and more particularly to "improvements in amerchandise display supporting bracket of the type which is adapted tobe demountably attached in a plurality of different positions on theface of an upright perforated panel to display and support various itemsof merchandise on racks, rods, or the like, secured to the bracket.

The present invention is a direct improvement over the display andmerchandise supporting bracket disclosed in the c'opending Edward M.Levy application Serial No. 304,274, filed August 14, 1952 (Patent2,766,958).

In the merchandising field, retail stores have been able to increasetheir sales volume by displaying the different items of merchandise infull view of the purchas ing public on support brackets which may bedemountably carried on upstanding perforated panels constructed ofwallboard, wood, fiber board, metal, and other materials. These panelsare provided with uniformly spaced holes or perforations therein inspaced-apart vertical and horizontal rows for the purpose of detachablyreceiving the merchandise supports, clips or brackets that have beenspecifically designed to display the different items of merchandise. Thematerial from which the panels are made, the weight and size of themerchandise to be carried on the detachable supporting brackets, and thetype of the hooks on the merchandise supporting brackets, normallygoverned the thickness of the panels. Generally, the perforated panelsare approximately one-eighth inch thick, but this thickness may bevaried as noted above. A merchandise supporting bracket used incombination with such panels is provided with off-set tongue means,hooks, or the like, having one or more horizontal offset leg portionsthereon of a length substantially equal to the thickness of the paneland having a cross-sectional area which is somewhat less than thediameter of the perforations in the panel. Also, the thickness of thematerial of the merchandise supporting bracket is normally less than thethickness of the panel. With this arrangement, the tongue means, hooks,or the like, on the merchandise supporting bracket may be insertedthrough cooperating perforations in the panel so. that an upstanding legportion at the rear end of each of the "horizontal oif set legs willengage the rear surface of the panel with the front main supportingplate for the bracket in engagement with the front surface of the panel.

A merchandise supporting bracket of the type noted above is disclosed inthe previously mentioned copending application. The supporting bracketdisclosed in said application is quite satisfactory in'that it performsthe desired function of demountably supporting items of merchandise fordisplay purposes on perforated panels of the type noted. It has beenfound, however, that each time this type of supporting bracket ismounted and subsequently removedfrom a perforated panel in,orderTtoaalter adisplaytlier'eon; tli'er'earwardly and up- 'ice"upwardly projecting hooks to dig into the walls of the cooperatingperforations and thereby distort andmutilate the walls of theperforation and disfigure the front surface of the panel. Also, thepressure exerted to remove 'a jammed bracket from the perforated panelat times bends the rearwardly and upwardly projecting hooks sufiicientlyto render the bracket useless. I v

In the fabrication of the supporting bracket disclosed in the abovementioned Levy application, each of the off-set, rearwardly and upwardlyprojecting hooks on the bracket are bent rearwardly from the top edge ofthe planar base plate thereof to provide first leg portions that extendthrough cooperating perforations in the panel. Also, the rear ends ofthese leg portions are bent upwardly to provide upstanding second legportions so that they respectively engage the rear surface of the panelwhen the supporting bracket is mounted thereon. Since the leg portionsof each of the hooks on the supporting bracket are formed from the samematerial as theibase plate, the vertical thickness of each leg thatpasses through a cooperating perforation is equal to the thickness ofthe material of the base plate. Also, the horizontal thickness of eachleg that passes through a cooperating perforation, as well as theabove-mentioned vertical thickness, issom'ewhat less than the diameterof the cooperating perforations.

NVhenever supporting brackets of the type noted above are supported on aperforated panel, the rearwardly projecting first leg portions of thehooks that extend through the cooperating perforations must be ofsufficient strength to carry and support relatively heavy items ofmerchandise carried by the supporting bracket. In order to strengthenthe rearwardly extendinglegportions referred to above and thereby toreduce the tendency to bend upwardly from the sheer weight carried bythe bracket, the entire longitudinal length of each of the leg portionsisformed with a concave upper surface and a corresponding convex lowersurface, the latter surface also cooperating with the lower curved wallportion of the perforation. The cost of manufacturing brackets of thischaracter is relatively expensive due to the number of fabricating stepsthat arerequired to stamp out a bracketblank, bend the off-set hookportions and form the convex andconcave s'urface'sof the leg portions ofthe hooks to produce a finished supporting bracket. 7

It is the main object of the present invention to provide an improvedmerchandise supporting bracket which a perforated display panel withoutdistorting the peripheral edges of the perforations therein and withoutdisfiguring the front surface of the panel. v I,

It is a further object of the present invention toprovide an improvedmerchandise supportiny bracket in which the hook members aresimultaneously formed during 1t he stamping operation that produces thebracket 5 an It is still another object of the resent invention toprovide. in an improved merchandise supporting bracket of the typenoted, a main upstandingfront bbdy portion having a top edge thereonextending above the hooksto provide a pivot point about which thebracket is rotated while it is in slidable engagement with thefrontsurface of a perforated panel so that the hook member's xten'dingrearwardly from the sideedges" of the bear-parties can be rotated inorout of the cooperating" perforations in the panel withoutbindingorjamming on the walls-of V he perforations form the hooks along theside edges of the main body portion of the bracket so that the weight ofthe bracket, as well as the items of merchandise carried thereby, is inadirec tion parallel to the vertical bend along the side edges of saidmain body.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbest. be understood from the following description thereof taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings,.in which:

- invention is detachably mounted on the perforated panel;

Fig. 4 is ayertical sectional view of the panel shown in Fig. 3 andshows the manner in Which the rearwardly extending hook members of theimproved merchandise display supporting bracket of the present inventionare pivotally rotated in or out of the perforations in the panel withoutjamming or binding therein as the bracket is being attached to orremoved from the panel.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawing,

it will be seen that the improved merchandise supporting bracket of thepresent invention is a unitary member,

shown generally at 10, comprising an upstanding base plate 11 having aflat rear surface 12 of substantial area adapted to lie verticallyagainst and bear upon the front surface 13 of an upright or verticallydisposed panel 14 having a plurality of uniformly spaced-apart circularperforations 15 therein arranged in equally spaced-apart vertical andhorizontal rows.

The support member 18 preferably stamped and formed from a single sheetof metal or the like, with a plurality of identical hook portions formedintegrally upon and extending rearwardly from the respective side edges16a and 16b of the base plate 11. The hook portions are spaced-apart adistance equal-to the spacing between adjacent perforations 15,

butits hould be understood that the base plate 11 may 'be furtherextended so that the hook portions thereon 'are spaced-apart adistanceequal to any multiple of the spacing between adjacentperforations 15. Although the hook portions on the base plate 11 havebeen shown at the sides of the plate, it should beiunderstood that theymay also be formed from the base plate between the sides thereof.

Each of the two hook portions extending rearwardly from eachof therespective side edges 16a and 16b on the base plate 11 comprises arelatively straight first leg element 17 having one end formedintegrally with the side edge and extending rearwardly therefrom atright angles to the plane of the base plate 11. The hook portionextending rearwardly from the side edge 16b of the base plate 11 isexactly the same as the hook portion extending rearwardly from the sideedge 16a on the :base plate. Each leg 17 on the oppositely disposed hookportions is of sufiicient length to extend completely through any one ofthe-perforations and thus the length of each leg 17 is determined by thethickness of the perforated panel with which the support member 10 is tobe used. Normally, the thickness of the panel will be at leastone-eighth inch and the thickness of the material from which themerchandise support bracket 10 is fabricated will be 1ess;than thethickness of the panel with which it is used. The outer extremity ofeach leg 17- extends upwardly to provide a second. upstanding legelement 18. The leg elementlS comprises a flat front edge portion 19that is substantially parallel to the plane of the base plate 11 and isoff-set with respect to the rear surface 12 of the base plate 11 adistance substantially equal to the thickness of the panel 14. Theupstanding leg element 18 also includes a curved rear edge surface 20that terminates at its lower end with the lower edge portion of therearwardly extending leg element 17 and, at its upper end the curvededge portion 20 terminates in the upper end of the flat edge portion 19.As isv clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the upstanding second leg element18 extends upwardly above the perforation 15 a suflicient distance sothat the flat edge portion 19 thereof may bear upon the rear surface 21of the panel 14 after the hook portions on the bracket 10 have beeninserted through cooperating perforations 15.

The two hook portions referred to above each include the first legelement 17 and the second leg element 18 and these elements arepreferably formed by a stamping operation with the respectivehookmembers extending outwardly in opposite directions from the sides 16aand 16b and in the plane of the base plate 11. Thereafter, or as aseparate step during the stamping operation, the hook members are bentrearwardly from the edges 16a and 16b on the base plate 11 to completethe fabrications of the supporting bracket 10, as illustrated in Figs.1, 2, 3 and 4. By forming the hook portions on the base plate 11 so thatthe first leg elements 17 thereof are turned rearwardly from therespective side edges 16a and 16b considerably more weight may besupported by the supporting bracket'lt) without: bending the first legelements 17 upwardly than has been possible in the prior brackets havingthe hook members turned rearwardly from the upper edge of the base plate11.

To permit the improved merchandise supporting bracket 10 of the presentinvention, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, to be readily removed andreplaced on the panel 14 without mutilating theperforations 15 therein,the base plate 11 has been formed sothat the upper edge 22 thereof,between the side edges 16a and 16b, extends above the lower edge on thefirst leg elements 17 a distance substantially equal to the diameter ofthe perforations 15 and in the panel 14. Attention is directed to thefact that the vertical thickness of each of the first leg elements 17,from its lower surface to its upper surface, is greater than thehorizontal thickness thereof and it is also somewhat less than thediameter of the perforations 15, also, the horizontal thickness betweenthe sides thereof is also less than the diameter of the perforations 15and is equal to the thickness of the material of the base plate 11.Although the upper edge 22 of the base plate 11 has been shown extendingthe full width of the base plate, it will be appreciated that it mayalso form the upper limits of one or more projections that extendupwardly from some desirable point below the upper edge 22. At theopposite ends of the upper edge 22, thebrack- 'et is curvedoutwardly-and downwardly as seen in Fig. 2

to further increase the rigidity and strength of the rearwardlyextending first leg elements 17 Where they join and are bent rearwardlyfrom the sideedges 16a and 16b of the base plate 11.

In order tov remove the improved merchandise supporting bracket 10 fromthe perforated panel 14, the

lower portion of the base plate 11 is rotated upwardly and outwardlyaway from the front surface 13 of the panel 14 from the positionillustrated in Fig. 3 toward the position illustrated in'Fig 4.Thelongitudinal rear edge of the -upper edge 22 on the base plate 11provides a pivot point the curved edges 20 on the second ,leg elements18 are in a position to pass through the perforation 15 withoutmutilating or binding in the wall of the perforation, During the rotarymovement of the base plate 11 about-the pivot point as described above,the upper surfaces of the respective first leg elements 17 are rotatedout of the perforations 15 without mutilating thempper edges'and wallsof the cooperating perforations. Also, the flat edge portions 19 on therespective second leg elements 18, at their upper ends, rotate away fromthe rear surface of the panel 14 as the lower end of the fiat edgeportion 19 is rotated into and through the perforation 15. When the baseplate 11 is rotated to a position that is substantially perpendicular tothe front surface 13 of the panel 14, the hook portions, each includingthe first and second leg elements 17 and 18, secured to the respectiveside edges 16a and 161) may be withdrawn from the cooperatingperforations 15. Thus, the merchandise support bracket may easily beremoved from the panel 14 without jamming, binding or mutilating thewalls and peripheral edges of the cooperating perforations 15 or thehook portions on the bracket.

After the support bracket 10 has thus been removed, it may be relocatedin any other desired position on the panel 14 by first inserting thesecond leg elements 18 of the respective hook portions into cooperatingperforations 15, with the base plate 11 held in a position that issubstantially perpendicular to the front surface 13 of the panel 14.Thereafter, the base plate 11 may be rotated or pivoted downwardly withthe top edge 22 of the base plate acting as the pivot point in contactwith the front surface 13 on the panel 14 to bring the base plate 11into contact with the face of the panel 14. During this movement, thetop edge 22 again provides the sliding pivot point with the frontsurface 13 to guide the respective sec.- ond and first leg elements 18and 17 in the order named through the associated perforations withoutjamming, binding or distorting the walls and peripheral edges of thecooperating perforations.

It should be noted, however, that during the removal and replacement ofthe bracket 10 on the panel 14 as described above, lower edges of thelegs 17 and the curved rear edge portions on the second leg elements 18function as cam or guide members in contact with the lower wall surfacesof the perforations 15 and govern the sliding movement of the pivotingupper edge 22 along the front surface of the panel so that the first legelements 17 and the flat edge portions 19 on the second leg elements 18do not distort, jam or otherwise damage the walls and peripheral edgesof the cooperating perforations.

In the form of the merchandise display supporting bracket 10 illustratedin the drawings, an outwardly extending rod 23, shown in dotted lines torepresent any desired form or shape of rack for carrying merchandise,may be welded or otherwise secured to the front surface of the baseplate 11. The particular size, shape, or character of the specific rack,rod or other device for carrying merchandise, which is secured orsupported by the base plate 11 forms no part of the present inventionand it is contemplated that the support bracket 10 may be universallyemployed in combination with all such racks, rods or the like, forcarrying merchandise.

It will thus be apparent to those skilled in the art that themerchandise supporting bracket 10 may be constructed with racks whichhave numerous variations depending upon the particular character, sizeor shape of the items of merchandise to be displayed on the panel. Itshould be noted, however, that the weight of the merchandise to becarried by the supporting bracket 10 is transmitted to the perforatedpanel through the relatively straight rearwardly extending first legelements 17. Inasmuch as the rearwardly extending straight leg elements17 are bent rearwardly from the respective side edges 16a and 16b of thebase plate 11, the downward force or pull of the weight carried on thebracket 10 is ;'in a direction parallel to the bend in the legs 17 wherethey join the respective side edges of the base plate. If desiredlower-surface of the respective first leg elements '17 may :be slightlyrounded so that lower surface will. have the :same general contour asthe lower wall of the perforations 415.

It will thus be appreciated that .the merchandise support bracket 10 ofthe present invention is so constructed that the force of the weight ofthe merchandise carried on the racks or the like secured to the baseplate 11 is transmitted to the panel 14 at several places and over asubstantial area of the panel, thereby making it possible for thesupport and panel to bear loads of considerable magnitude withoutdistorting or otherwise damaging either the bracket 10 or a perforatedpanel constructed of relatively soft material for supporting thebracket.

In the construction of the supporting bracket 10 of the presentinvention disclosed in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the hook members,including the first and second leg portions 17 and 18, are bentrearwardly from the side edges 16a and 16b of the base plate 11. Bybending the hooks from the side edges as noted, the horizontal thicknessof the material of the respective legs 17 is the same as the thicknessof the base plate 11 material and the vertical thickness of therespective legs 17 is greater than the horizontal thickness. Thedownward force of the weight of the merchandise carried by such abracket is perpendicular to the edge or vertical thickness of therearwardly extending legs 17 and in a direction parallel to the bend at.the junction of the sides 16a and 16b of the plate 11 and the legs 17.With'this method of providing the rear-- wardly extending legs 17 on thebase plate 11 considerable more weight may be carried by the bracket 10without distorting or bending the hooks.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed by way of illustration, it will be understood that variousmodifications may be made therein which come within the true spirit andscope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A merchandise supporting bracket demountably secured upon an uprightpanel having a plurality of vertically and horizontally spaced-apartperforations therein comprising, a vertically disposed base plate havinga top edge and spaced-apart side edges and having a rear surface bearingagainst the front surface of said panel, a pair of rearwardly extendinghook members respectively carried on said side edges of said base platebelow said top edge thereof, each of said hook members including a legextending rearwardly from one of said side edges of said plate andthrough one of the perforations of said panel and then upwardly on therear side of said panel, the lower edges of said legs normally restingon said panel within said perforations so as vertically to support saidbase plate and the upwardly extending portions of said legs beingadapted to bear against the back side of said panel to preventwithdrawal of said legs from said perforations while said base plate isvertically disposed on said panel, said top edge of said base platebeing located well above the junctions between said rearwardly extendinglegs and the side edges of said base plate and being adapted to contactthe front surface of said panel to provide an axis of pivotation aboutwhich said base plate may be rotated in a direction away from the frontof said panel in order to remove said sup port bracket from said panel,the presence of said top edge at an elevation above said junctionscausing a partial but substantial Withdrawal of said legs from saidperforations simultaneously with the pivotal movement of said plate,thereby tending to avoid binding of said legs in said perforationsduring removal of 1 said support bracket from said panel.

2. ,The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said hook members areintegral with said base plate, and wherein said base plate and said hookmembers are formed of a 7 References Cited in the file of this patentsingle piece of sheet metal.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein the 'U STATES PATENTS vlower and rear edges of said legs of said hook members 336,045 Melchior0 are arcuately curved so as to slide across the lower interior 52,312,985 Bales 2, 1943 surfaces of said perforations and function ascams in guid- 2538953 l Augeflfeld Jan. 9

ing said legs therein during said pivotal movement of said 2,514,701Mapson -1 1952 base plate. 1 r

